Die apparatus



' June 29,1937. v..J. GRAF 2,085,139

Patente June 29, 1937 PATENT ori-ics DIE APPARATUS Vincent I. Graf, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Briggs Manufacturing Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan This invention relates to die blocks and more particularly to a die block for manufacturing sinks from a single piece of sheet'metal.

`A sink generally comprises a basin portion, a

5 sloping drainboard portion located either on formation of the basin. the presence of the bulge of the basin at either end of the splash apron portion complicates the die design particularly if a stamping operation is to be performed which involves a pressure on the blank exerted in a direction extending across the basin. This is particularly true of the operation of forming the top and end flange of the splash apron. If, at the same time, it is desired to emboss the splash apron, additional complication occurs.

If, in addition to designing a die to work around the basin, it isalso necessary to have both right hand and left hand dies, then the die expense also becomes exorbitant.

One of the objects of my invention therefore is to reduce the die expense required for the manufacturing of right and left hand sinks by providing a single die which may be used alternatively for performing operations on splash aprons after the basin, located at either end of the apron, llas been formed.

Another object of my' invention is, to provide a die for performing `an operation on the splash apron of a one-piece sheet metal sink blank which may be either ofthe right or left hand type, but

in `which the splash apron portions are identical. A still further object of my invention is to pro- 40 vide a die having asink basin engaging portion and a splash board deforming portion, the basin engaging portion being movable across the die so that one die may be used alternatively on blanks having right or left hand basins.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims. reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification/wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of Va portion of a die and sink blank, parts'of the die being cut away to show the construction whicl` incorporates myinvention.

Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate, respectively, iight hand and left hand drainboard sinks showing in dotted lines the form of the blanks before they are put through the die shown in Fig. 1, and in full lines their form as changed by said die.

Before explaining in detail the present inven- 5 tion it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the ,invention is capable of other embodiments and of 1 0 being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed 15 herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring to the drawing, the sinks shown, which are symmetrical, comprise a basin portion I0, -a drainboard portion II, and a flange I2 which is later to be deformed into the front edge 20 of the sink. Before being operated on by the die, thebackV edge I3 of the sink blank liesi in a plane perpendicular to the ange I2. The operation to be performed in the die Will bend the splash apron flange I3 into a top flange I 4 and 25 end flanges I6, only one of which is shown. An embossed panel I1 will also be formed inthe center of the splash apron, this embossment extending across the back of the blank above both the basin and the drainboard. 30

It will be noted that the embossment and the top and end anges are the same in each of the sink blanks shown in Figs.v 2 and 3, but that in the right hand drainboard sink the basin is at the left and in the left hand drainboard sink the 35 basin is at the right.

Because it is necessary, in embossing the panel and in drawing the anges I4 and I6, to hold the metal of the flange immediately adjacent the top edges of the drainboard and basin, the die must 40 be designed to do this without interfering with the already formed basin. The die illustrated in Fig. 1 accomplishes this result.

'I'he die comprises a lower section I8 and an upper section I9 alined and held in alinement 45' bylocating studs 2|. The die is particularly adapted for use in a double action press fitted with air cushions or springs .1n the well-known manner. v

`The lower section of the die is provided with 50 a. pressure plate portion 22 which surrounds an opening substantially the size of the finished splash apron panel, the pressure plate portions 22- being curved to form the top and end flanges Y u and is. 55

21 which cooperates with the pressure plate portions 22 to grip the edge of the flange I3 during the operation ofvdrawing the anges Il and I6.

Attached to theram of the press is a second die 10 block 28 having a die plate 29 in the lower surface thereof, this plate being adapted to form the embossment Il and extending across the embossment into contact' with the unembossed portion ofthe front wall of the splash apron.

The die block 28 is recessed as at 3|, this recess being suiciently large so that as the die block 29 comes down, it'will not touch the basin portion I of the blank. Carried by the movable insert 24 in the lower section i8 of the die 20 is a gauge or locating pad 32 which serves to position the sink blank inasmuch as its contour is substantially the same as the inner surface of the basin. 'I'his gauge or pad.32 may be vertically located by the guide rail 33 and is held 25 against the insert 2li by suitable adjusting bolts 3d operating in a slot or holes 36 formed in the.

die block 24. y

With this construction the pad is adjustably and slidingly mounted on the face of the block 30 24'and may be 'shifted laterally 'thereof to engage the basinwhether the basin be located at the right or left hand end of thek sink blank. Relocation of the basin engaging pad is the sole change required to fit the die shown for either 35 right or left hand sink blanks.

. I claim:

1. A die block assembly for performing a stamping operation on the splash board portion of either a right hand or left hand sink blank; each of said blanks comprising a basin portion, a drain board portion located respectively on the right or left side of the basin portion, and a `splash board portion extending across the sink,b1ank along the edges of the basin and 5 the drain board portion; said die block assembly comprising die means for performing a stamping operation on the splash board portion, gauge means for engaging or locating said basin portion, and means for locating said gauge'means adjacent either end of said die means, whereby said die block assembly may be adapted for operation on either right hand or left hand sink blanks by moving said gauge means to a position such that it will engage thej basin portion of the selected blank.

2. A die block assembly fork performing a stamping operation on the splash board portion of either a right hand or left hand sink blank; each of said blanks comprising a basin portion, a drain board portion located respectively on the right or left side of the basin portion, and a splash board portion extending across the sink blank along the edges of'the basin and the drain board portion; said die block assembly comprising die means for performing a stamping operation on the splash board portion, and movable gauge means and gauge supporting means adjustably iixed below said die means for engaging or locating said basin portion, whereby said die block assembly may be adapted for operation on either right hand or left hand sink blanks by moving said gauge means to a position such that it will engage the basin portion of the selected blank.

3. A die block assembly for performing a stamping operation on the splash board4 portion of either a right hand or left hand sink blank; each of said blanks comprising a basin portion, a drain board portion located respectively on the right .or left side of the basin portion, and a splash board portion extending across the sink blank along the edges of the basin and the drain board4 portion; said'die block assembly comprising die means for performing a. stamping operation on the splash board portion, movable gauge` means for engaging or locating said basin portion, and means for locating s aidgauge means adjacent either end of said die means, whereby said -die block assembly may be adapted for operation 

